Parallel-ruler.



No. 004,005. Patented oct. s, 190|. n. T. smkas.. PARALLEL. HULEBJ..

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(N0 Model.)

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UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

DAVID T. STOKES, OF NEAR JOHANNESBURG, SOUTH AFRICAN` REPUBLIC.`

PARALLEL-RULER.

PECXFICATXON forming part of Letters Patent N o. 684,005, dated October8,1901.

Application tiled January 5, 1900. Serial No. 479. (No model.)

T0 all wwnt it 7mo/,y concern.-

Beitknown that I, DAVID T. STOKES, a citizen of the United States,residing on the property of theGeldenhuis Deep, Limited, nearJohannesburg, in the South African Repub lic, have invented certain newand useful Improvements in Parallel-Rulers, of which the followingv is aspecification. n l

This invention relates to that class of parallel-ruler which is providedwith rollers or runners to maintain itin correct lposition while rulinga series or number of 'parallel lines, employed by bookkeepers,architectural, mechanical, and other draftstnen, and in otheroccupations or pursuits in which it may be desired from time to time torule a sheet of paper, book, or other object with a number of parallellines. the following objects: (a) to render it possible to rule thelines equaldistances apart, (b) to provide means for regulating thedistances betweenthe lines, (c) to permit the rollers to be adjusted soas to` enable sheets of different Widths to be ruled, and (d) to soconstruct the rollers as to permit of their be-y ing adjusted or setrelative to each other and also to prevent the possibility ofthe rulerslipping While in use.

In order that the invention may be lmore readily comprehended, I appendhereto an explauatory sheet of drawings, marked with letters ofreference, corresponding to the following description thereof. Y

In the drawings, Figure l illustrates in elevation a parallel-rulerconstructed in accordance With this invention. Fig. 2 is'an endelevation of same. Fig. 3 is a plan. Fig. 4 is a transverse sectionalelevation of one of the rollers D D', drawn to an enlarged scale. Fig. 5is a side elevation of the roller. Fig. 6 illustrates detail views ofthe spindle C, showing the means for adjusting the rollers thereon. Fig.7 illustrates detail Views ot' the spring c* for maintaining the rollersD D tight on the spindle C.

A is the ruler proper, preferably beveled lott on one side, as seen ata, to form the ruling edge et. The ruler is provided with a longitudinalslot B, terminating in two approximately semicylindrical holes orcavities -b b', which form an opening on the under side of the ruler, asseen at b4 in Figs, l and 2.

Iwithin the cavities b b.

It is designed with engage.

In the ruler beyond the cavitiesbb brackets forming bearings c c arefitted, in which a longitudinally-arranged spindle C is free to rotate.ll

D D are the rollers lixed to the spindle C These rollers projectslightly beyond the bottomor undersur- ,f

face of theruler, as seen at hgin Figs. l and 2. At the center of theruler a furthercurved tates a central boss Fon the spindle C. the rulerin front of the boss F a recess G isformed, approximately equal in Width4to the boss F.

` 7L is a pi-n or spindle fitted within the recess, on which is mounteda spring-pressed catchH.-v

The boss F is'formed with several divisions, three being illustrated inthe drawings, and is provided on its circumference with equidistantgrooves or notches for each division, with which ythe spring-catch H maybe set to The spring-catch H is capable of hollow or cavity E is formed,in which rol being moved "along the pin or spindle t, so as i toengagethe notches in any ofthe divisions. y. The division t" of the bossF maybe 'groovedj so as to arrest ther movement of the ruler everyquarter of an inch, the division t2 every three-eighths of an inch, andthe division t3 every one-half inch, or any other desiredrdisi tance.projection h to engage the grooves t', and itis maintained in contactwith the boss F by means of the spring h2. l (See Fig.' 2.) e

It will be obvious that the boss or roller F may be constructed so as torule one set of' equidistant lines only, or that it` may be arranged soas to give any desired combination.

In Figs. 4 and 5 the construction of one of the rollers D Disillustrated. H H2 are two preferably metal disks fitted on a sleeve orThe spring-catch H is formed with-a f if.:

tubular center piece H3, the disk H resting against a flange orprojection h3 on the sleeve II3. J is a rubber ring interposed betweenthe disks H H2, and K is a nut screwed onto the other end of the sleeveH3 for securing the several parts in position. By tightening the nut Kon the sleeve H3 the rollers D D" may be adjusted to compensate for wearor to accurately adjust the rollersD D' relative to each other byexpanding or contracting the rubber ring or center J.

TOO

In Figs. 3, 6, and 7, I illustrate the means by which the rollers D Dmay be adjusted relatively to each other to rule sheets of paper otdierent Widths. In this case the semicircular cavities b b' will becontinued inward for some distance, as seen at L, form.

ing an opening on the under side of the ruler through which the rollersD D' may project at any intermediate position. I prefer to constructboth rollers adjustable, so as to maintain a true balance of the ruler,but one only may be made adjustable,if preferred,and the other bepermanently attached to the spindle C. In order to temporarily securethe rollers D D on the spindle C in any intermediate position within thecavities b b, notches or indentations ca are formed in the spindle C. Afiat spring c4, .(see Fig, 7,) is placed inside the sleeve or tubularcenter piece H3 of the rollers D D, bearing on the indentations c2 andbeing held in position withinthe sleeve H3 by means of the upturnededges or extremities c3, which project to the outside of the sleeve H3,as seen in Fig. 5. On applyinga slight pressure to the side of therollers the springs `yield and slide over theindentations, and thuspermit any desired adjustment to be eiiected. lVlien no adjustment ot'the rollers D D is desired, they may be secured to the spindle C withinthe cavities b b', as seen at O, Fig. 3.

If desired, the ruler may be fitted with a folding set-square andprotractor M, one end of the ruler being provided with a slot m, intowhich it folds, the 'set-square being pivoted on the pin or pivot n.

-In'use the spring-catch II will first be set so as to engage thegrooves in the boss F corresponding to the distance the lines are to beruled apart. The ruler is then placed in position, and after a line hasbeen ruled the spring-catch is raised and the ruler rolled backwarduntil the spring-catch I-I engages the next groove, when the operationis again repeated.

`Having thus described my invent-ion, what I claim, and desire toprotect by Letters Patent, is

1. In a parallel-ruler, in combination, the ruler proper A, the cavitiesb b formed therein and opening on the under side thereof, thelongitudinal slot B between the cavities b b', the spindle C and itsbearings c c', the rollers D D' mounted on the spindle C Within thecavities b b, the central cavity E of the ruler A, the boss F of thespindle C provided with the three sets of grooves, the recess G of theruler A formed in front of the boss F, the pin h fitted therein, thespring catch I-I mounted on the pin h and capable of being movedlengthwise thereof to engage each of the sets of grooves in thedivisions 'i' 112 i3 substantially as set forth.

2. A parallel-ruler having thespindle, on which the rollers are fitted,`formed `with notches or indentations at one end, the rollers beingprovided with a spring bearing against said notches to permit ofadjustment of the rollers lengthwise of the ruler, substantially. asdescribed.

3. In a parallel-ruler the combination of the ruler A, the cavities b band longitudinal slot B, the.spindle C, and the brackets or bearings cc', the notches c2 on the end of the spindle C, the rollersv D `Dcomprising the tubular "center piece IIS, the disks II H2, the rubberring J and nut K, the springs c4 for maintaining the rollers D D' inposition on the spindle G, the boss F of the spindle C formed ot' theseveral divisions t" i12/3, the recess G, the pin 7L, the spring-catch Hmounted on the pin h capable of being set to engage grooves 1l in eachof the divisions "izfi, and the recess m and folding protractor andset-square M substantially as described.

In witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand in presence of twowitnesses.

DAVID T. STOKES.

lVitnesses:

R. OVENDALE, ,Ga I. FISCHER.

